China offers visa-free entry to travelers holding ordinary passports from Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Slovenia, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Russia, Sweden, Canada and United Kingdom. Citizens from those countries are able to enter China without a visa and stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, family visits and transit purposes till December 31, 2026.
So if your nationality is one of those countries, you DO NOT need to follow below instructions to apply for the transit visa, just please go to immigration directly.
1. Countries qualified for the 24/240 hours free Transit Visa in Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport now (Dec, 2024) adopts 240 hours free Transit visa to the holders of passports issued by the following countries: Canada, Indonesia, Chile, Czech Republic, Mexico, Macedonia, Monaco, Republic of Montenegro, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.
According to our experience, some of the countries do not belong to the 240 hours visa free countries, but if you layover within 24 hours in Beijing, you still can obtain the visa free for 24 hours. Such as: India, Philippines, Vietnam, Columbia, Ecuador, Panama, Dominican Republic, etc.
2. Restrictions of the 24/240 hours free Transit Visa
It only applies to passengers who transit through Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing. The destination and place of departure cannot be the same.(e.g Auckland – Beijing – Auckland).
3. About how to get free Transit Visa at Beijing airport
Please see details at: https://www.beijinglayovertour.com/beijing-layover-tour-tips/.
Even if you fit all the policies above, the immigration officers still have the right to object to you for some reasons (sometimes they will tell you the reason, sometimes they don’t).
If you want to be 100% sure, please apply for the visa in advance at the Chinese Embassy.
We found some reasons that cause you can not obtain the free Transit Visa.
1. The validity of your passport is less than 3 months.
2. Worked or been to Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan.
There must be more reasons but we just don’t know yet. (The latest updated on Nov. 17, 2023)
As a tour company, if we agree to arrange a tour for you that means your flight information, layover time and your nationality fit the visa free policy requirements.
But there are still some other issues that might happen that might cause you can not obtain the visa-free or can not get out of the airport.
We don’t take any responsibility if it happens. And according to our private tour refund policy, we will deduct our tour guide and driver airport transfer costs accordingly and refund the rest of the tour fee to you. (Most companies are non-refundable)
Hope for your understanding!
HI, to be sure: is it necessary to have a single ticket for transit?
We’re flying in from Dubai with Emirates, leaving two days later with ANA to Japan, and would like to apply for a 72hr transit. All flights are confirmed. Thnx!
Hi Ari,
If your nationality belongs to 51 visa-free 51 countries, you can get 72 hours transit visa for sure.
We are a family of 4, all Philippine passport holders and greencard (not US citizen). We will be back to US on August 2018 (already bought tickets for summer 2018). Our connecting flight wait time is 39 hours (arrival from Phils Sun 10:30 am – departure for US Mon 10:35 pm). Philippines is not included in the 72-hour transit VISA. We want to visit Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great wall, and the tomb. Is it possible? Please advise.
Hi Ma Lea,
Thank you for contacting us!
Since your layover time is more than 24 hours, so you would have to apply Chinese entry visa in Chinese Embassy in advance.
We can arrange the tour for you after you get the visas.
I am Philippine passport holder going to Manila and laying over in Beijing for 5 hours … will I have any problems ?
Hi Norman,
You can stay in Beijing airport without any problems.
Hi,
I am a Malaysian with Indefinite leave to remain in the UK. I will be travelling from the UK with 24hrs transit in PEK airport to Kuala Lumpur. Do I need to apply for a visa if I want to leave the airport?
Many thanks,
Nadia
Hi Nadia,
We arranged tours for Malaysian without visa. But the airport have right to stop you in the airport without any reason even was happened for the US passport holders. So if you want to be 100% sure, please apply for a visa.